Retractable telescoping court standard

ABSTRACT

A collapsible court standard for positioning a net above a gymnasium floor includes an embedded upright floor tube with a top end which is level with the floor; one or more contained tubes slidably positioned within the floor tube; a releasable lock means and biased rocker latches to maintain the contained tubes at a selected height. Pneumatic power is supplied to the embedded upright floor to lift the contained tubes. The releasable lock means includes a split ring to maintain the net at a particular height. A shock absorbing pad cushions the contained tube upon retraction, and a movable floor cover is attached to the floor tube to provide access to the contained tubes. A winch and pulley are attached to a contained tube or innermost cylindrical member so that a net cable may be drawn over the pulley and tightened with the winch.

PRIORITY DATA

This application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. Patent applicationSer. No. 10/714,094 filed on Nov. 17, 2003, entitled “RetractableTelescoping Court Standard” and is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to net support standards used in gymnasiums. Moreparticularly this invention relates to net a support standard whichtelescopes down to a fraction of its extended height and then retractsbelow floor grade for storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most gymnasiums are used for many and all indoor sporting activities. Aschool gymnasium is typically continuously scheduled for differentactivities each hour. If volleyball, tennis, or badminton are played itis first necessary to access a storage room and carry the net standardsfrom the storage room to a central portion of the gymnasium where theywill be used. Before the conclusion of the scheduled time the standardsmust be removed and returned to the storage room so the gymnasium willbe cleared and available for the next scheduled event. These standardsare heavy. Generally, arriving early to access them in storage and lugthem to position and, staying late to lug them back to storage, is oneof the least preferred aspects of coaching.

One problem with court standards is providing accessible storage forthem. A partial solution to this problem is to provide height adjustablestandards which may be adjusted to the varying heights required forvolleyball, tennis, or badminton. One problem with using a heightadjustable standard is that the multipurpose standard is substantiallyheavier. What is needed is a standard which is adjustable for height andwhich can be conveniently stored beneath the floor on the location whereit is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The retractable telescoping court standard includes an embedded uprightfloor tube having a top end portion which is nominally in alignment withthe gymnasium floor, a contained tube closely and slidably positionedwithin the floor tube, and a releasable lock means to maintain thecontained tube at a selected height above the floor. In one embodiment,there are a plurality of contained tubes, and each contained tube isclosely and slidably positioned within a tube therebelow.

A top portion of the floor tube and each contained tube has an annularinner stop portion. The lower portion of each contained tube has anannular outer guide portion having a thickness comparable to the innerstop member. The outer guide portion contacts its respective stop memberwhen the contained tube is fully upwardly extended.

A method of erecting a court standard and supported net above agymnasium floor includes the steps of: providing a court standard asdescribed above; elevating the contained tube to a desired height;releasably locking the contained tube at the selected height above thefloor; and attaching the net to the court standard. The task of carryingthe court standard from storage is eliminated and setup time issubstantially reduced.

Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable telescoping court standardshowing a court standard supporting one end portion of a net, inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the retractable telescoping court standardshowing a floor plate having a hinged lid, in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of two contained tubes andthe upright floor tube for the retractable telescoping court standard,in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rocker arm mechanism for theretractable telescoping court standard, in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the retractable telescopingcourt standard, in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a disassembled view of the retractable telescoping courtstandard, in accordance with the present invention.

The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specificembodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to thedrawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate thesame or similar parts and/or Structure. It should be noted that suchdiscussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a courtstandard 20 supporting one end portion of a net 18. Most generally, thecourt standard 20 for positioning a net 18 above a gymnasium floor 16comprises: an embedded upright floor tube 22 having a top end portionwhich is nominally in alignment with the gymnasium floor 16; a containedtube 24 which is closely and slidably positioned within the floor tube22; and a releasable lock means 26 to maintain the contained tube 24 ata selected height above the floor 16. In one embodiment, there are aplurality of contained tubes 24. Each contained tube 24 is closely andslidably positioned within a tube 24 or 22 therebelow.

A pneumatic supply line 70 supplies pneumatic power from a pneumaticsupply to the embedded upright floor tube 22. Thus pneumatic power canbe used to raise the contained tube or tubes 24 to the appropriateheight. A pneumatic toggle switch 72 is incorporated into the pneumaticsupply line 70 to control the flow of pneumatic power into the embeddedupright floor tube 22. In one position, the switch 72 permits pneumaticpower to flow to the embedded upright floor tube 22. In anotherposition, the switch 72 stops the flow of pneumatic power. In anotherembodiment, the switch 72 has a third position to release pneumaticpressure from the upright floor tube 22 and the contained tube or tubes24, to controllably lower the contained tube or tubes 24 into theupright floor tube 22. The switch 72 may be positioned on the floorcover 32 beneath the cover plate 34.

In one embodiment, the court standard 20 further comprises a shockabsorbing pad 30 positioned within a bottom portion of the floor tube 22to cushion the contained tube 24 upon retraction. Most preferably thepad 30 is made of rubber. The releasable lock means 26 is a lockablesplit collar 28.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the floor cover 32. The plate 34 covers acentral opening and is movable, but can be attached with a hinge 36. Apneumatic toggle switch 72 may be incorporated into the floor cover 32beneath the cover plate 34.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing how two containedtubes 24 and the upright floor tube 22 interlock. A top portion of thefloor tube 22 and each contained tube 24 has an annular inner stopportion 40. A lower portion of each contained tube has an annular outerguide portion 42 having a thickness comparable to the inner stop member40. The outer guide portion 42 comes into contact with a respective stopmember 40 when the contained tube 24 is fully upwardly extended. Theouter guide portion 42 also limits the amount of tilting or sidewaysdeflection of the contained tubes 24. Each of the contained tubes 24includes a port or aperture 76 to permit pneumatic power to enter eachcontained tube 24 and lift each of them. Referring back to FIG. 1 thecourt standard 20 most preferably has a top and innermost cylindricalmember 44 with a lower end portion that has an annular outer guideportion 42, like the contained tubes 24, and an upper portion adapted toreceive the net 18.

A winch 46 can be releasably attached to a contained tube 24 (see FIG.1), and a top pulley 48 can be removably attached atop the top andinnermost cylindrical member 44. The pulley may also be permanentlyfixed to the top member 44 to be stored inside the floor tube 22. A netcable 50 is be drawn over the pulley 48 and tightened with the winch 46.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rocker latch 28 which utilizes a pin54 in an elliptical hole 56 so that the load is partially carried by therocker latch 52 rather than entirely by the pin 56. Under a load thebottom of the rocker latch 28 bears against the top edge of thecontained tube 24 immediately below and against the recess. The top ofthe rocker latch 28 bears against its storage recess 74 in the containedtube 24. The releasable lock means 26 on the contained tubes 24comprises a biased 27 rocker latch 28 configured so that when thecontained tube is fully elevated the latch will automatically engage. Inanother embodiment, there are two opposite rocker latches 28 so that thelatches 28 may be squeezed together for release. As stated above, eachrocker latch 28 pivots on a pin 54 in the elliptical hole 56 so that theload carried by the contained tube 24 is partially carried by the rockerlatch 28 rather than entirely by the pin 54.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the peripheral lip seal 60 totrap air within the inner members 24 to enable pneumatic lifting andair-cushioned retraction of the court standard 24. The standard is ableto collapse back into the floor tube 22 when the latches 28 arereleased. The seal 60 is attached around the perimeter of the annularouter guide 42 portion of the contained tube 24. The seal 60 is flexibleto provide a substantially airtight seal. The seal 60 contains thepneumatic power and allows the contained tubes 24 to extend and collapsewith minimal friction.

FIG. 6 shows a disassembled view of the contained tubes 24 and the toptube 44 for the retractable telescoping court standard 20. The seal 60is visible on the annular outer guide 42 portion of each contained tube24 and top tube 44. In one embodiment, the tubes 24, 44 include analignment groove 78. The interior of each of the contained tubes 24 andthe floor tube 22 include an alignment pin (not shown) that engages thegroove 78 in the adjacent contained tube 24 or top tube 44. The grooves78 prevent the tubes 24, 44 from twisting.

The court standard 20 is easily raised and lowered. The contained tubes24 are elevated to a desired height, the contained tubes 24 arereleasably locked at the selected height above the floor 16; and the net18 is attached to the court standard 20. This system eliminates the taskof carrying the court standard 20 from storage. Many variations on thisbasic method are possible. For example, pneumatic power may beintroduced into the embedded upright floor tube 22. This pneumatic powermust be controlled to some degree in order to lift the contained tubes24 out of the floor tube 22 and each other. Thus a seal 60 is locatedbetween each adjacent floor tube 22 and contained tube 24 to keep thepneumatic power inside them.

The releasable locks include a lockable split ring 26 adapted to engagearound the top and innermost cylindrical member 44 to maintain the net18 at an appropriate height. Each contained tube and the upper cylinder44 includes at least one biased rocker latch 28 which automaticallydeploys as each contained tube 24 reaches full extension. A plurality ofrocker latches 28 can be used on each contained tube 24 and the top tube44 to more evenly distribute the load.

When the standards 20 are at the proper height, the user can attach awinch 46 to a contained tube 24 and route a net cable 50 over a toppulley 48 at the top of the innermost cylindrical member 44. The otherend of the net cable 50 is attached to the standard 20 without thewinch. A hook or other releasable means may be used. The net cable 50 istightened with the winch 46.

The standard 20 is easily stored as well. First, the net cable 50 isloosened and the net 18 removed. The winch 46 is removed. Finally, allof the biased rocker latches 28 are released. As the rocker latches 28are released, the contained tubes 24 will drop down into the floor tube22. The seals 60 control the pneumatic power when the contained tubes 24are lifted, but also slow the descent of the contained tubes 24 tominimize the rate of descent and the risk of damage to the containedtubes 24 or the floor tube 22.

In one embodiment of the invention there are five interlocking containedtubes 24, as well as the innermost cylinder 44. Each of the containedtubes 24 are about two feet in length and can be made from anodizedaluminum or other suitable materials. The standards 20 may be coveredwith pads (not shown) in various school colors.

To install the court standard 20 a 6″ diameter hole is drilled throughand beneath the concrete floor 16 to a total depth to permit the top ofthe floor tube 22 to be flush with the surface of the floor, about 28½″. The floor tube 24 which has an outside diameter of about 4 ½″ isthen placed into position and set in concrete within the drilled 6″diameter hole. To retrofit an existing removable standard which isstored off location it is as easy as enlarging the existing hole to theabove specified size, and then concreting the floor tube 24 within thatenlarged hole.

While the invention has been described with preferred specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description isintended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention,which is defined by the following claims.

1) A court standard for positioning a net above a gymnasium floorcomprising: an embedded upright floor tube having a top end portionwhich is nominally in alignment with the gymnasium floor; a containedtube closely and slidably positioned within the floor tube; and areleasable lock means to maintain the contained tube at a selectedheight above the floor. 2) The court standard as in claim 1, furthercomprising: a pneumatic supply line attached to the embedded uprightfloor tube at a first end and a pneumatic power supply at a second end;and a pneumatic toggle switch incorporated into the pneumatic supplyline between the first end and the second end. 3) The court standard asin claim 2 wherein the releasable lock means comprises a split ringadapted to engage the contained tube to maintain the net at one ofmultiple heights, said height selected for a game being played. 4) Thecourt standard as in claim 3 wherein there are a plurality of containedtubes, each contained tube closely and slidably positioned within a tubetherebelow. 5) The court standard as in claim 4 further comprising: ashock absorbing pad positioned within a bottom portion of the floor tubeto cushion the contained tube upon retraction; and a movable floor coverattached to the floor tube and providing access to the contained tubes.6) The court standard as in claim 5 wherein a top portion of the floortube and each contained tube have an annular inner stop portion, andwherein a lower portion of each contained tube has an annular outerguide portion having a thickness comparable to the inner stop member,said outer guide portion coming into contact with a respective stopmember when the contained tube is fully upwardly extended. 7) The courtstandard as in claim 6 further comprising a top and innermostcylindrical member having a lower end portion having an annular outerguide portion and an upper portion adapted for reception of the net. 8)The court standard as in claim 2 further comprising a winch which isreleasably attachable to a contained tube and wherein the top andinnermost cylindrical member further comprises a top pulley so that anet cable may be drawn over the pulley and tightened with the winch. 9)The court standard as in claim 4 further comprising a biased rockerlatch incorporated into each contained tube and configured so that whenthe contained tube is fully elevated the latch will engage. 10) Thecourt standard as in claim 9 wherein each contained tube comprises apair of rocker latches positioned opposite each other so that thelatches may be squeezed together for release, and wherein each rockerlatch pivots on a pin in an elliptical hole so that the weight carriedby the contained tube is partially carried by the rocker latch ratherthan entirely by the pin. 11) The court standard as in claim 4 whereinthe inner members further comprise a peripheral seal to trap air withinthe inner tubes to result in an air-cushioned retraction of the courtstandard. 12) The court standard as in claim 1 further comprising: analignment groove incorporated into an exterior surface of the containedtube; and an alignment pin attached to an interior surface of the floortube, the alignment pin in sliding communication with the alignmentgroove. 13) A method of erecting a court standard and supported netabove a gymnasium floor comprising the following steps: (a) providing acourt standard having an embedded upright floor tube having a top endportion which is nominally in alignment with the gymnasium floor; acontained tube closely and slidably positioned within the floor tube;and releasable lock means to maintain the contained tube at a selectedheight above the floor; (b) elevating the contained tube to a desiredheight; (c) releasably locking the contained tube at the selected heightabove the floor; and (d) attaching the net to the court standard;thereby avoiding the task of carrying the court standard from storage.14. The method of erecting a court standard of claim 13, where step (b)further comprises the steps of: (b1) applying pneumatic power into theembedded upright floor tube. 15) The method of claim 14, where the courtstandard further comprises: a lockable split ring adapted to engagearound the top and innermost cylindrical member to maintain the net at aselected height. 16) The method of claim 15 where step (c) furthercomprises the step of: (c1) locking the split ring onto the innermostcylindrical member to maintain the net at the selected height. 17) Themethod of claim 15 where step (c) further comprises the step of: (c2)releasably attaching a winch to the contained tube; (c3) releasablyattaching a top pulley to the top of the innermost cylindrical member;(c4) stringing a net cable over the pulley; and (c5) tightening the netwith the winch. 18) The method of claim 13 where step (c) furthercomprises the step of: (c1) automatically engaging at least one biasedrocker latch when the contained tube is fully elevated.
 19. The methodof storing a court standard, comprising the steps of: (a) removing anattached winch from a contained tube; (b) removing a top pulley from aninnermost contained tube; and (c) releasing all biased rocker latches.